uAspire

Though Massachusetts boasts one of the most educated workforces in the nation, the state’s wage divide is widening. By 2020, 72 percent of Massachusetts jobs will require some higher education, yet rising costs keep college out of reach for the state’s low-income students who are 26 percent less likely to enroll in college than their higher-income peers.

To close these gaps and to give all students equitable access to high-quality postsecondary opportunities, we bring our college affordability advising to the communities who need it most, such as Fall River where only 14 percent of adults have bachelor’s degrees. Across six cities last year, we supported more than 9,100 students.

In 2017, uAspire Massachusetts launched policy and systems change work to improve college affordability across the state. We’re leveraging our expertise, building coalitions, and partnering with institutions and policymakers to address the financial barriers that keep too many of our young people from graduating college.

Program Partners

We are honored to work alongside our extraordinary partners. Together, we are removing the financial barriers that keep too many of Massachusetts' young people from graduating college and reaching their potential.

Biogen STAR Initiative

In June 2018, the Biogen Foundation announced uAspire as one of six key partners of the four-year, $10 million STAR Initiative to help students from low-income families in Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts, gain STEM exposure and successfully transition into postsecondary education. With this funding, uAspire will provide its college affordability advising to more students in these communities.

Boston WINS

uAspire Massachusetts is proud to be one of five partner organizations in State Street's Boston Workforce Investment Network (Boston WINs) supporting Boston youth from high school into the workforce. Being a WINS member has given us the opportunity to work more intentionally with our partners toward improved student outcomes. During the 2016-2017 school year, coordinated action with our State Street Boston WINs partners in 30 Boston high schools led to 22% more FAFSAs submitted and 29% more award letters reviewed over last year.

Greater Boston Real Estate Board

uAspire administers scholarships held by the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB), assisting them with application design and collection, eligibility determination, awardee recommendations, and fund disbursement. Learn more.

Success Boston

Since 2008, uAspire has partnered with Success Boston, an innovative citywide college completion initiative that engages the Boston Public Schools (BPS), the City of Boston, 37 higher education institutions, and local nonprofits to double the college completion rate for students from BPS. As the initiative's college affordability partner, we provide our Succeed text advising to students and college affordability training to Success Boston coaches.